Crossing-conduit for electric railways



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. I. W. HEYSINGER. CROSSING GONDUIT FOR ELBGTRIG RAILWAYS. No. 898,963. Patented Mar. 5, 1889.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I. W'. HEYSI1\IGER.v CROSSING CCNDUIT FCR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

No. 398,963; Patented MC1'. 5, 1889l INVENTOR l I CJQM lSAAC IIEYSTNGER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CROSSING-CONDLHT FOR ELECTRIC RAlLvtf/YS.,

SPECFCATON fer? "t of Letters atent No. 398,968, dated March 5, 1889.

Original application :iled April 2l, 1887, Serial No. 235,584. Divided and application led November 29,1887, Serial No. 256,396t Again divided and this application filed May 24, 188BA Serial No, 274,884. (No modelo le it linown that l, ISAAC Vf. llEYSIMiER, ol' Philadelphia, in the (fountiyol' Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and usel'ul Improvement in (Trosssurfaee, the transverse passage oli" the conduit being seen in side view. lfig. 2 is a horizontal section ot' l alongl the line ol conductors A" Al l thereof, showing` the track-supports i the trames .l .'ll. Fie'. il is an enlarged view ot" the iniddh` part oli' Fig'. 2, showing the insnlating'tubes also which convey the electric Current. across the interrupted spaces of the longitudinal conductors; and liig. l a top kview olf my crossing-eenduit, showing" my eleetrie leads projecting' from the free ends ol. the passages thereof", the whole adapted to be attached to dillerent series of Continuous conduits approaehing' said crossing from dill'ereut direc-tions.

The lettering in all the ligures is unil'orln` )ly invention relates io the construction of a crossing-Cominit lor eleetrie railways in which two interseetiiml railways reduire to have the enrrent-gathering devices of eaeh motoncar traverse the said intersection without interri'iption and without beingI put out of electric el'mtaet oll the meter-dynamo of said carand thelongitudi nal cond nel ing-leads of either ot said railways.

My present invention, which forms the subjeet-niatter of this application,exceptin some ot' the specille details relating` to the insulation ol' my deileeted wires at crossings, was embraced in my appl ieat ion forl'ietters Patent, rial No. 956,396, tiled No\'einlie1;".l,lSS7, t'roin which it has been separated to make a divisional api'ilieation, and my said application, Serial No. 515,306, tiled November 29,1887, was also embraced as to its subject-matter in my original amilication, Serial No, 235,5Sl, tiled April 2l, lSS; and mypresent invention is partieularly applicable to the system and construction ot' my electric railways as therein shown, described, and claimed, but is also adapted for use with other electric railways,

" as i'nay be desired.

The iirst. part of my invention consists in a crossing-conduit for electric railways having two or more transverse passa-ges through which the current-g'athering devices of an electric motor can pass, said transverse passages opening' laterally .into leach other and provided with insulators and longitudinal. conducting-leads, said leads interrupted at said in terseetion and the li'ree ends oi' said leads joined by laterally-detlected wires carried in insulated duets, the lwhole forming a single Construction made in the shops, tor instance, and complete uheu put down in place, the conduits ot the main lines being simply. attached to the free ends ot the transv rse passages ot' said erossiiig-celuliiit, the leads bein g electrically joined to the leads ol the main lines at the saine time, and the whole ready Yfor use.

The seeonzl lpart oli' my invention consists in providing' my crossing-iuiduit with laterallyprojeeting arms, said arms forming snpports for the track way ol each system or line ol railway crossing -said eonduit, so that the same may be locked securely without possibility ot' displacement by the traelzways of the intersectingl railways, each aeting against displacement by the others.

The third part ol. my Vinvention eonsists in the inea-ns by which l carry my insulated leads through the walls ol" my erossiiig-con duit and connect them by laterz'rlly-detleeted wires carried in insulated d uets from the free end ot one interrupted lead to the corresponding free end ot' thesamelead beyond said interseetion.

Ny invention also consists in the special construction ot' my leads, supports, insulators, crueit'orm conduit-slot, and other details of Construction, in the combination as hereinafter deserilnfd.

Reterrinpr to the drawings, lfigs. 2 and 4 show the lerossing-conduit or interseetitm which forms the subject-inerti er ol my pres- IOO ent invention, and which I use in my electric railway, and, as shown in the iigures, I make these crossing-conduits complete and ready for use before I put them into the ground or lay the trackway upon them. It is crossshaped in horizontal section, open in the two transverse directions occupied by the intersecting lines et railway, each transverse conduit having a narrow slot in its upper surface, which slots intersect each other at the middle and form a cruci'form slot, one branch giving passage into the conduit for the current-gathering devices of the motor-car of each line of railway and allowing freevpassage therefor. To the inner sides otA the traine ot' the conduit, along each transverse passage, I attach insulated conducting-leads, which terminate near the inner angles formed by the intersecting conduits, and from the termination of each lead I carry across the interrupted space an outside conducting-wire adapted to permit the free passage of currentgathering devices along the transverse passage, which said outside wire is attached to the opposite free end ot the continuation of the same lead beyond the said intersection, so as to complete the circuit along the conducting-leads of the railway just as though the same were made continuous from end to` end. These laterally-deflected wires I carry in insulated tubes or ducts, which I prefer, as described in my former original application, to make of leaden pipes, (see Fig. 3,) in which the wires are securely carried and properly insulated by suitable packing between the said wires and the inner surfaces of the said ducts. I carry these leaden pipes through the walls of the conduit to make connection with the ends of the interrupted leads, or I provide the insulating-block which supports the free end of the lead with a tubular projection extending outward through the wall ot' the conduit, and to the outer ends of these tubular projections I att-ach the outside ducts or leaden tubes and carry the deflected wires vfrom the free ends of the lead through t-hese tubular projections of the insulating-block and the ducts 'attached thereto. v

The frame of the crossing-conduit, Figs. l. and 2, is provided at each of its ends where the transverse passages commence with lateral flanges perforated with bolt-holes, so that when the conduits of the main line are placed against them the corresponding lian ged faces of the main and the crossing conduit will face each other, and bolts inserted in theholes will draw the two conduits together and make a secure construction. At the same time the leads of the crossing-conduit are joined to the .leads of the main conduit and the whole is ready for use.

At the internal corners of my crossing-conduit (see Figs. 2 and 3) I round oft the free ends of the leads, so that curient-gathering devices may more freely ride np and make connection therewith as they pass the intersection.

L L L L', Fig. 2, are the transverse pas sages of my crossing-conduit, and L2 is the space occupied by the intersection. The narrow slots J 3 JL, Fig. l, are shown in Fig. 2 in dotted outline; but in Fig. l the same is shown in end view with the bar C of a motor-car eX- tcnded down through the said slot and supporting wires cl cl, which connect the currentgathering rollers c c with the leads A B, and transmit the electric energy to theinotordynamo oi' the car above. Instead of rollers c c', other currentgathcring devices may be employed. The leads A B are supported upon longitudinal wooden bars A B and insulated at various distances by the insulatingblocks I I I, all of which construction is fully described and claimed in my application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 256,396,11led November 29, 1887; and in this application I make no broad claim to the devices therein shown, described, and claimed, but confine myself to the specific combinations involved in this application.

The insulating-blocksI II are bolted to the inner walls of the conduit, Fig. 3, by bolts I2 I2 and the insulating-blocks I I, which are straight along the line, are made with an angle, as shown at I I, where they are fitted around the corners of the crossing-conduit. The tubular Aprolongations I10 I10 extend from the blocks I through the walls of the conduit, and to the outer ends are attached leaden tubes K K 172, which extend across the intersection, as shown at K, Fig. 1,where theleaden tube is seen beneath the conduit. Other substances, as concrete, asphaltum, wood, the., may be used for these lateral tubes or ducts, or in some cases the wires themselves may be heavily insulated and be used without any separate outer casing or tube. The ends of these tubes are securely attached to the tubular projections Il lmet each side, and in Fig. 3 (lower part of figure) I do not provide the blocks I I with such tubular projections Il, but carry the leaden tube K directly through the conduit-wall and through a perforation in the insulating-block I and secure it by a flanged expansion, K5, or a cemented joint upon the inner side. This latter method is cheaper, and I prefer to use it in this construction.

The walls of the conduit J J J1 J1 are provided at their free ends with flanged eXpansions J J i J l J 1, having bolt-holes JT J T J "7 J1'I- for attachment to similar iianged expansions upon the ends of the main conduits with which the crossing-conduit is to be used. Instead of these flanged expansions, theends may be made to taper and slip over or inside the free ends of the main conduit and be held bysuitable cross-bolts; but the construe-- tion shown is preferable, unless for special reasons which may arise.

` The cross-shaped in tersection-cond uit I pre fer to provide near its free ends with lateral supporting-arms, as shown in the conduits of my other pending application hereinabove .IOO

IIO

described, and ivhich support the stringers upon which the rails or cross-ties of the railivay are placed 3 but in my present invention I unite the t'rec ends otf these supportingarins J l .I J"1 at the corners J2 J2, so as to greatly increase the strength and resistance of the supi'iorting-arins as Well as of the conduit itsell.

.,l" and il are benches formed for the support ot the stringers, as shown in Fig. l.

)ly erossing-eonduit, as a whole, I make ot' a single casting iiione construction, and ai'terward attach the insulators, leads, side Wires, de, or I build it up of sheet metal, bolted or riveted tiiigcther, and all readyY for use, so

that when placed in the ground, if it be subterranwin,or placed upon the substructure,

it li'or an elevated railway, it ii'ill be all ready to make connection with the conduits of the j of the conductors of said leads Joined to their main lines as they are built to approach it;

but I do not confine inyseit' to such construc- 1 tion put in place as a ivhole,but sometimes build my conduit from separate parts in the place ivhich it is to occupy, Instead ot using Yseparate side Wires to carry the current between the tree ends of the Vinsulated leads,l `sometimes carry these leads themselves bodilyY through the walls ol the conduit, properly insulated and protected by heavy leaden or oil-.ier ducts as they traverse the intersection beneath the conduit. I show this very clearly in Fig. 3, While in Fig. 2 are shown sei'iaiate wires by which I accomplish the saine result. I prefer to use the leads thus deflect-ed, as coiiiiniiity is better preserved and the caliber o the lead is not impaired in any part. These leads, Whether flat or round in cross-section, are easily deiiected and earried across the interrupted space, and ii suitably Wrapped with insulating material and i for the railsI of. an intersecting railway, the

passed into a leaden pipe, parai'iine being poured into said loaden pipe, will fix all in place and allow the saine to be bent at willi Instead ot parat't'ine, other insulating substances may be used, and I thus preter to treat inyside connections ivhen placed in their tubes or casing's with an insulated wrapping and a covering of melted parattiiie, or its equivalent, poured into the said tube and allowed to cool. This melted parat'ne is very readily poured in at the flanged opening K5, as shown in Fig. i3, after the lead B has been wrapped and the wrapped portion passed through the tube K3, and upon its emergence al the oppositie end thereof carried on to inake the continuation ot the said lead Il beyond the intersection.

l do not in this application Vlimit myself specifica-ll y to the precise constructionherein shown, but combine the various parts of my invention or adapt one to another in various ways known to mechanics skilled in the art, without departing from the principles of my invention, as herein set forth, and for sonic of the details of the parts with which my said invention is particularly adapted to be used l rel'ei io my other api'ilcations Vfor Letters Patent hereinabove referred 1o and non' pending.

Il'aving now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

is- Y Il. As an article of manufacture, a crossingcond uit tor electric railways tor use at intersections thereof, formed in a single construction, practically complete betere being put into place, said conduit having tiro transverse passages crossing atan angle and opening' into each other, provided with longitudinal slots along their upper surfaces, intersecting and opening into each other, said passages having secured te their inner and opposite sides parallel conducting-leads lor each intersecting line A i3 Al* Ii, interrupted by the distance between the internal corners ol' said transverse passages, and liai'ingthe .free ends continnations beyond said interrupted space by deflected and insulated metallic conductors carried across said intersection ont ot' the line of travel of the current-gathering devices oi' a motor-car upon either line of railway, said leads attached to the inner sides of said oonduit by insulated supports, the Afree ends of. said leads at the extremities ot the passages and the outer ends ot' said passages adapted to be attached to the [free ends of the leads and the free ends et the passages oi' the conduits of said railways, so as to complete the said intersecting' railways and tiic electric connections thereoil when the said conduit is in place, substantially described.

2. The i'ailii'ay-crossing conduit having transi'erse passages open through the saine and intersecting each other, longitudinal open slots along' its upper surfaces intersecting each other, and a supijiorting tranie-ii'ork, .I' J,

Whole formed in one consti .et-ion before being pnt into place tor use, substantially as described.

3. In acrossiiig-conduit Al'or electric railways, the transverse intersecting paf-sages Il L', having Walls JJ", said passages crossing cach other at an angle, in. combination with supporting-arms J Jl" J JM, siiringing from the outer Walls ot said pa.` 'ages and having their free ends unit-ed at Ji l the Whole 'forming a. rigid square traine-Work adapted to supportA the traekway ot two intersecting railways and prevent displacement ot' the said conduit by the thrust of said railways in either direction, together with a line ot' electric leads extended along said passages, insulated froni said walls, and interrupted at said intersection, and laterally-dotiected conductors bridging said interrupted spaces out of line ot travel of the cuwent-gathering devices of a inotcrcar upon said railways, substantially as described.

at. In combina-tion with a crossing-conduit for el ee tric railways, the intersectiii g passages I Ii, haring intersection IP, the leads A li along the sides oi thepassae'e Il, and the leads IOO IIO

A1 Bl along the sides of the transverse passage L', said leads insulated from the conduitwalls J J1 and interrupted at said intersection L2, each of said leads substantially continuous and carried out laterally through the wall ot said conduit and across said intersection beneath the same, and thence back through said wall into said passage beyond said intersection and continuously onward along the line, together with flexible insulating tubes or ductsK K, surrounding said leads and preserving the insulation thereof in their passage troni the deflected end of each of said leads to the continuation of the salue beyond said intersection, substantially as described.

5. In an electric-railway-crossing conduit, the transverse passages L L', intersecting each other, in combination with the leads A B A1 31", ext-ended along said passages and interrupted at the intersection L2 thereof, said leads deflected, so as to cross the said intersection out of the line ot' passage ot' the current-gathering devices of a motor-car, and the insulating-tubes K K' K2 K, surrounding said deected leads, substantially as an d for the purposes described.

0. ln combination with the cross-shaped conduit having walls .l .l J1 Jl and intersecting passages L L', the electric leads A 3 A1" Bl, adapted to be connected with the corresponding leads of one or more electric railways, and the 'flanged expansions J l J J J1 upon the free ends oi. the walls oi' said crossshaped conduit, and boltholes JT J1T in said fianged expansions, the said .flanges adapted to face against corresponding` flanges of the the deflected wires A A2" B B21, covered Y with an insulating substance and contained within ducts K K' K2 K3, carried across the intersection L? out of line of travel of said current-gathering devices, the space between said wires and said duets filled with melted parafline or the like after the said wires are in place in said ducts, substantially as described.

8. In an electric-railway-crossing conduit, conducting-leads extended along' within the saine, insulated from said conduit by insulators l l, and interrupted at the intersection L2, said leads deflected at said interruption to bridge the said intersection, or the free ends thereof connected byalaterally-deliected wires, in combination with leaden tubes K3, or the like, surrounding and insulating said deflected wires, said tubes extended through perforations in said insulating-blocks l I, opposite the tree ends of said leads, and secured in said insulators l by joints or expansions K K, substantially as described.

, ISAAC lV. HEYSINGER.

Witnesses J. L. HEYSINGER, M. B. FENNINGER. 

